Universal suction attachment for pneumatic power tools

ABSTRACT

A universal suction attachment for pneumatic power tools includes a housing having a tool coupling portion, a duct portion, and a focused outflow portion. The tool coupling portion is capable of connection to an exhaust port of the pneumatic power tool such that exhaust air from the tool is captured therewithin. The focused outflow portion is capable of connection to a vacuum conduit and to a collection tube. A duct is provided throughout the duct portion, providing flow between the tool coupling portion and the focused outflow portion. In use, exhaust air from the power tool that is captured within the tool coupling portion is ducted through the duct portion and into the focused outflow portion. A resulting flow of the exhaust air creates a vacuum in the vacuum conduit to transport debris to the collection tube.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to power tools. Theinvention relates specifically to a universal suction attachment forpneumatic power tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Pneumatic power tools are well known, and have enjoyed widecommercial success. These power tools are commonly used for lightindustrial operations, such as grinding, drilling, “nibbling”, shaving,sawing, hammering, and the like.

[0003] Operation of pneumatic power tools creates dust and other debris,which can be bothersome or even extremely harmful to an operator of thetool and to other nearby persons and machines. Commonly, vacuum devicesare employed around a work area where a pneumatic power tool is in use.The vacuum devices typically comprise a “shop vac” type of poweredvacuum collection system, which requires separate manipulation by theuser. In order to alleviate the requirement of separation manipulationof a power tool and a powered vacuum system, several means have beenproposed to combine the functions of the tool operation and the vacuumsystem in one device.

[0004] For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,737 issued to Moates, apneumatic drill or “jackhammer” includes a conduit attachment enclosedby a tube of sound absorbing material, that channels exhaust airtherethrough to dampen noise produced by the exhaust air. The exhaustair flow creates a vacuum effect, which may be used to draw dust andsmall debris out through a discharge opening. A separate source ofcompressed air may be employed, to create an increased vacuum effect.

[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,390 issued to Wanner, et al., a power toolincludes a blower mounted on an output shaft of a motor driving thetool. The blower acts to collect particulate matter resulting fromoperation of the tool.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,457 issued to Walton, II, discloses avacuum-operated tool for cutting plaster casts. The tool employs aturbine impeller mechanism that rotates in response to a vacuum-inducedflow. A saw blade is coupled to the impeller mechanism and is driventhereby. Ambient air drawn into the tool by the vacuum-induced flowentrains and removes particulates resulting from operation of the toolon a cast.

[0007] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,957 issued to Krotz, et al., a pneumatichand tool has an exhaust port that is connected to an exhaust fitting,including a venturi and a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber isconnected, in turn, to a removable suction pick-up nozzle. In operation,air exhausted from the tool at the exhaust port creates a vacuum by wayof the exhaust fitting. The vacuum acts through the suction pick-upnozzle to collect debris created by the tool. The exhaust fitting, orinjection nozzle, together with the venturi, can be in the form of anattachment arranged for screw connection to the exhaust port of thetool.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,364 issued to Belanger discloses a tool forcutting a protruding pintail of a set fastener. The tool includes avacuum system for collecting severed pintails. The vacuum systemcomprises an impeller connected to an output shaft of the tool, tocreate a partial vacuum for collecting the pintails.

[0009] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,244 issued to Chu, a pneumatic toolincludes a venturi tube portion formed in a side portion of the tool fordirecting an exhaust air stream from the tool. The directed exhaust airstream from the venturi acts to remove dust produced by the tool.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,367 issued to Daniel discloses an attachmentfor a rotating tool bit. The attachment provides air flow in a vicinityof a work area without need for separate vacuum or compressed airsupplies.

[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,941 issued to Vollenweider, II, a portablevacuum system is powered by a pressurized air supply, which is also usedto power a connected tool. A venturi device generates a vacuum from thepressurized air supply. By way of selectable valves, an operator canseparately control the supply of pressurized air to the vacuum systemand the tool.

[0012] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,758 issued to Lee discloses amulti-functional air gun that uses a single compressed air supply toselectively perform a vacuum operation, a blowing operation, or bothoperations simultaneously.

[0013] The aforementioned patents and other devices known in the artgenerally provide means for harnessing energy from a power tool to drivean accessory. However, such devices have been problematic in that, forexample, elaborate and specifically constructed mechanisms must beemployed to provide means therefor.

[0014] Therefore, there exists a need for a universal suction attachmentfor pneumatic power tools which overcomes the drawbacks of the knowndevices, and which provides versatility and interchangeability inapplication and use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a universalsuction attachment for pneumatic power tools that harnesses energy froma power tool that would otherwise be expended.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a universalsuction attachment for pneumatic power tools that does not require theuse of elaborate and specifically constructed mechanisms.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide auniversal suction attachment for pneumatic power tools which overcomesthe drawbacks of known devices, and which provides versatility andinterchangeability in application and use.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, a universal suctionattachment for pneumatic power tools includes a housing having a toolcoupling portion, a duct portion, and a focused outflow portion. Thetool coupling portion is capable of connection to an exhaust port of apneumatic power tool such that exhaust air from the tool is capturedtherewithin. The focused outflow portion is capable of connection to avacuum conduit and to a collection tube. A duct is provided throughoutthe duct portion, providing flow between the tool coupling portion andthe focused outflow portion. In use, exhaust air from the power toolthat is captured within the tool coupling portion is ducted through theduct portion and into the focused outflow portion. A resulting flow ofthe exhaust air creates a vacuum in the vacuum conduit to transportdebris to the collection tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a universal suctionattachment for pneumatic power tools, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and shown as being coupled to a pneumatic power tool.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a magnified and partially transparent illustration ofthe invention as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a front view illustration of a housing component of theinvention.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional illustration of the invention, takenalong line A-A in FIG. 3.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional illustration of the inventionas depicted in FIG. 1, shown as being coupled to a pneumatic tool inoperation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, there shown is an exemplary embodiment of auniversal suction attachment for pneumatic power tools 10 (“attachment10”). As depicted, attachment 10 is coupled to an exemplary pneumaticpower tool (herein, a conventional grinding wheel G). With additionalreference to FIG. 2, attachment 10 comprises a housing 100 havingseveral portions: a tool coupling portion 110 including a telescopingseal cap 112 (acting in cooperation with a seal spring 115 as will befurther described), a duct portion 120, and a focused outflow portion130. As will be described more fully in operation of attachment 10 witha pneumatic power tool, coupling portion 110 is capable of connection toan exhaust port of the power tool such that exhaust air from the tool iscaptured therewithin. Coupling portion 110 also provides access to aconventional air supply coupling C of the pneumatic power tool.Likewise, focused outflow portion 130 of housing 100 is capable ofconnection to a vacuum conduit V and a collection tube T.

[0025] Housing 100 including its aforementioned several portions ispreferably fabricated from a stock plastic-like material such as, forexample, Makroblend UT 403 from Bayer Polymers. Such stock material maybe a polycarbonate/polyethylene blend that is UV stabilized. It has beenfound in the instant invention that such material provides suitableimpact resistance and chemical/oil resistance. Further, the UV stabilityof this preferred material inhibits fading and degradation of housing100 over time.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, housing 100 has an overall length ofabout 4.25 in. Correspondingly, tool coupling portion 110 has dimensionsof about 2.0 in. by 0.75 in., duct portion 120 is about 1.0 in. by 0.75in., and focused outflow portion 130 is about 1.25 in. by 1.50 in.

[0027] Upon close examination of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, it may be understoodthat duct portion 120 of housing 100 includes a duct 125 having twocomponents, 125 a and 125 b. Duct 125 forms a continuous venturi-likeflow conduit through duct portion 120, and provides flow from couplingportion 110 to outflow portion 130. Preferably, duct component 125 a isvertically oriented through duct portion 120, while duct component 125 bis provided at an angle of about 20° above horizontal. Further,component 125 a has a preferred diameter of about 0.1875 in., while thediameter of component 125 b is about 0.125 in.

[0028] Referring, now, to FIG. 5, attachment 10 is depicted as being inuse with a conventional pneumatic power tool. Specifically, toolcoupling portion 110 of housing 100 is connected to the exhaust port ofthe power tool, by way of telescoping seal cap 112 acting in cooperationwith seal spring 115. In this arrangement, spring 115 acts with seal cap112 to “universally” accommodate use of attachment 10 with variousmodels of pneumatic air tools. Specifically in FIG. 5, it may be seenthat upon connection of air line A to coupling C in a conventionalmanner, air line A forcibly abuts telescoping seal cap 112. In turn,seal cap 112 compresses spring 115, which effectively acts to securecoupling portion 110 to the tool. It is to be particularly understoodthat tool coupling portion 110, in concentric cooperation with spring115 and telescoping seal cap 112, together provide a universal andsubstantially airtight connection between housing 100 of attachment 10among pneumatic power tools having couplings C of various lengths andother dimensions.

[0029] Seal spring 115 may be any suitable wire spring that is operablewithin, preferably, a 1.5 in. bore, and having a linear working range ofabout 0.1875 in. to 0.75 in. Spring 115 also preferably has a wirediameter range of about 0.08-0.09 in.

[0030] As exhaust air from the tool in operation flows from its exhaustport, coupling portion 110 acts to collect and confine the exhaust air,whereupon sufficient pressure builds to force the exhaust air into ductcomponent 125 a. The effectively pressurized exhaust air is thenconducted through duct component 125 b in a highly focused fashion, andis thereby forcibly ejected into focused outflow portion 130. Uponreaching portion 130, the highly focused exhaust air rushes outwardlyand into tube T that is connected, for example, to a collection bag fordisposal. It is to be appreciated that this highly focused flow ofexhaust air creates a vacuum upstream in portion 130 and consequently invacuum conduit V. This vacuum through conduit V, toward the collectionbag, removes debris that is generated by the pneumatic power tool, andtransports the debris through tube T to the collection bag.

[0031] It is to be particularly appreciated and understood, therefore,that attachment 10 provides debris removal by way of capturing andfocusing otherwise expended and dissipated exhaust air from a pneumaticpower tool.

[0032] While the present invention has been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to the accompanying figures, it will beunderstood, however, that other modifications thereto are of coursepossible, all of which are intended to be within the true spirit andscope of the present invention. It should be appreciated that componentsof the invention aforedescribed may be substituted for other suitablecomponents for achieving desired results, or that various accessoriesmay be added thereto.

[0033] Of course, although shown and described in exemplary use with agrinding wheel, the present invention may be readily utilized withvirtually any pneumatic power tool.

[0034] It is also to be understood in general that any suitablealternatives may be employed to provide the universal suction attachmentfor pneumatic power tools of the present invention.

[0035] Lastly, the choice, of course, of compositions, sizes, andstrengths of various aforementioned components of the present inventionare all a matter of design choice depending upon intended uses thereof.

[0036] Accordingly, these and other various changes or modifications inform and detail of the present invention may also be made therein, againwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A universal suction attachment for pneumaticpower tools, comprising: a housing, said housing including (i) a toolcoupling portion capable of connection to an exhaust port of thepneumatic power tool such that exhaust air from the tool is capturedtherewithin, (ii) a duct portion, and (iii) a focused outflow portion,said focused outflow portion being capable of connection to a vacuumconduit and to a collection tube; and a duct provided throughout saidduct portion, said duct providing flow between said tool couplingportion and said focused outflow portion, wherein in use, exhaust airfrom the power tool captured within said tool coupling portion is ductedthrough said duct and into said focused outflow portion, such that aresulting flow of exhaust air creates a vacuum in the vacuum conduit totransport debris resulting from operation of the tool, to the collectiontube.
 2. The universal suction attachment for pneumatic power tools ofclaim 1, wherein said tool coupling portion further includes atelescoping seal cap and a seal spring provided there within, such thata substantially airtight connection may be provided between said housingand various pneumatic power tools.